At Midpoint, Dallas Cream Of Crop

The Cowboys need no further review. They thumped the world champion Redskins on opening night and lost only once to the Eagles. Then they proved that was a fluke.

They have coached and drafted and traded and played their way to the top. Their offense is as balanced as any in the league with Emmitt Smith as its focal point. Their defense is-surprise-ranked No. 1 in the league, outplaying and supplanting the previous No. 1 Eagles last Sunday.

As Minnesota coach Dennis Green was saying after his Vikings danced over the Bears Monday night: ``The first thing you have to do in the National Football League, no matter whether you`re playing the run-and-shoot or whatever, is stop the run.``

Nobody has stopped Smith, the league`s leading rusher. And wide receiver Michael Irvin again is leading the league in receiving yardage, giving quarterback Troy Aikman an unprecedented 1-2 punch. When Smith and Irvin led the league in the two categories last year, it was an NFL first.

The Cowboys gave up only one sack Sunday to the Eagles` pass rush. Offensive linemen Mark Tuinei, Nate Newton, Mark Stepnoski, John Gesek and Erik Williams shut out the Eagle front. The only sack was by linebacker Seth Joyner for no yards as he chased Aikman out of bounds.

Only 14 months ago, the same linemen minus Williams were on the field when the Eagles sacked Aikman 11 times.

``I`m proud and thrilled to death,`` said offensive line coach Tony Wise, who is earning his money.

The Cowboys obviously are well-coached under Jimmy Johnson, offensive coordinator Norv Turner and defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. But this Sunday will provide another test. They play the lowly Lions, who pummeled them 38-6 in last year`s NFC divisional playoff game.

The only reason the Cowboys weren`t playing playoff games at home last season was their inability to handle the run-and-shoot offense. The Lions also beat them 34-10 during the regular season. The Cowboys lost to Houston and barely beat Atlanta-two other run-and-shoot teams.

Although the current Lions are in such a state of disarray they don`t know whether they are running or shooting, the Cowboys can take another step forward by putting the Detroit memory behind them this week.

Unless the Cowboys` rapid rise is counted a surprise, there were few other shocking events during the first half of a season in which the cream quickly rose to the top.

The Vikings and Steelers are exhibits A and B, but because they toil in Central Divisions that include no outstanding teams, their success is not stunning.

Green and Pittsburgh`s Cowher are only two of a number of new coaches who passed the early-season test with honors. San Diego`s Bobby Ross stayed a step ahead of the wolves by leading the Chargers on a 4-0 tear after an 0-4 beginning.

Only the Saints and Cowboys join the Chargers on four-game winning streaks entering the second half. Not only that, but the Chargers are taking advantage of a fifth-place schedule by ranking second in defense (the Eagles slipped all the way to sixth) and 10th in offense.

For a while, it looked like the AFC would make a run at real respectability as Buffalo, Miami, Kansas City, Denver and Houston were impressive. Now, the Chargers and Steelers are carrying the banner as the rest struggle.

The Cowboys, 49ers and the quietly-efficient-as-usual Saints look like the strength of the league, with the Redskins on-again, off-again in the toughest of all divisions, the NFC East.

Down the stretch, injuries and the schedule are the two guiding factors. With three of last year`s playoff teams-the Lions, Falcons and Jets-already self-destructed, there do not appear to be many tight races shaping up for the final 12. Because history shows the six wild-card teams are essentially window-dressing, most eyes need to be focused solely on the division winners. AFC East-Buffalo (6-2) and Miami (6-2) square off on Monday night, Nov. 16, in Miami. The Dolphins won in Buffalo and can take the driver`s seat, but they have lost consecutively to the Colts and Jets.

AFC Central-Pittsburgh (6-2) already has swept closest rival Houston

(5-3), and the Steelers have five of their last seven games at home while the Oilers travel to Minnesota, Miami and Cleveland.

AFC West-Denver (5-3) is only a game ahead of Kansas City (4-4) and San Diego (4-4) with the Raiders (3-5) still considered dangerous. The Broncos are the only division leader that was outscored for the first half and they play four of the last six on the road.

NFC East-Dallas (7-1) is sitting pretty with only a December trip to Washington (5-3) in the way. The Cowboys play five of their last eight on the road, but they include trips to Detroit, Phoenix and Atlanta. The Redskins travel to Kansas City, New Orleans, New York (Giants) and Philadelphia.

NFC Central-Minnesota (6-2) put away the Bears Monday night and probably could split its last eight and still win.